AUSTIN (KXAN) — The day before Austin City Council is set to vote on how much money it will commit to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the roadway elements of future covers over TxDOT’s I-35 expansion project, some council members are putting forward a new plan.
As of Wednesday, there are two sub quorums of five city council members — each with different ideas on how to proceed. The council is made up of 10 members, meaning the vote is split right down the middle. That leaves the tiebreaker to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson.
One group — Council Members Ryan Alter, Chito Vela, Jose Velasquez, Zo Qadri and Natasha Harper-Madison — want the city to invest in roadway elements for as many highway covers, known as caps and stitches, as possible.
The other group — Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes, Council Members Krista Laine, Marc Duchen, Mike Siegel and Paige Ellis — are willing to go only as far as city staff’s latest proposal, a paired down plan that commits funding to the early construction elements of two downtown caps. The mayor announced Tuesday he will vote with this group.
Parks over I-35: Mayor to vote for more conservative plan amid council split
That latter sub quorum posted on the message board earlier this week and said in-part:…